‘Vacation Is Not What It Used To Be’: Djokovic Opens Up About Recovery After US Open
ATP
Novak Djokovic revealed that his current break from tennis was to enable him to spend time with his family as he has an 'obligation' towards his children.
Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open and swiftly returned home to Serbia to celebrate that win in front of the famous balcony of the Old Palace (Stavi Dor) in Belgrade. And just five days after the US Open he played at the Davis Cup qualifiers and successfully steered his country to the Final 8 of the tournament.
After the Davis Cup, Djokovic made a bold move to skip the entire Asian swing so that he could recover from a grueling summer of hard-court tennis in the United States. While most tennis fans expected Djokovic to be touring the world on vacation in his current break, the 36-year-old admitted that he is more of 'an active parent'.
Djokovic explains in an interview with Sportal, that vacation has a different meaning to him these days, as he found out once he returned home after his US Open success. Being in the company of his two children and wife has given him a dose of energy and finds himself immersed in the 'family system'.
"Vacation is not what it used to be for me, because after New York and Valencia, I entered the family system and rhythm, so I don't really have the vacation I used to have. But I'm finding a balance. Basically, I think that the time I spend with the children gives me energy and recovery. I was mostly with them, and still am."
"I am occupied with their obligations, and the obligations of the Foundation, because Jelena is very busy in these few weeks around the arrival of Dr. Gabor Mateo. Now I'm a more active parent in that sense."
Djokovic is aware of the crash program that is looming on the horizon when he returns to the courts in late October. Having skipped tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai (which could potentially cost him the year-end No. 1 ranking), Djokovic intends to play three tournaments before winding up another record-setting season.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will play in a crucial stretch of the season, at the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup Final 8 in Malaga. Djokovic is preparing for an intense end to the season and expects a lot of wear and tear on his 36-year-old body that has stood the test of time so far.
"Everything is going well. We made a three-week plan until the first match in Bercy. I still have three final events coming up and of course, ambitions are always high. In relation to that, I have to prepare well because I will have three tournaments in four weeks."
"It will be quite intense, with a lot of difficult, tiring, and challenging matches. Although I have the highest expectations for all three tournaments, somehow the biggest desire from the end of the season is to win the Davis Cup. I hope that I will be there at my peak, like the other guys from the national team."
